Removable footwear covers

ABSTRACT

A removable cover designed for a boot or shoe that covers the ankle area of a wearer is disclosed that includes: at least one flexible material, wherein the flexible material is designed to cover at least a part of the top portion of the boot or shoe; and at least one securing device coupled with the flexible material, wherein the securing device operatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe. Some embodiments include a sizing mechanism for a removable boot or shoe cover.

FIELD OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

The field of the subject matter is removable footwear covers, includingthose designed for boots and/or shoes that cover the ankle area of awearer.

BACKGROUND

There are many styles of fashion boots and ankle boots or shoes, butsome of the most popular are those that are stylistically simple,versatile and can be worn with many different looks, including dressy orcasual. These boots and shoes often come in one or very few differentcolors.

While these boots and shoes are essentially universal, there are acouple of problems for the wearer. First, if they have roommates, familyor visitors who have the same boots, it can be difficult to tell themapart when they aren't on the wearer. Second, the wearer may want to addhis/her own style to the boots or shoes. In the former case, the wearermay decide to mark the bottom of the boots or shoes, or otherwise add adistinguishing mark or item to the boot, but in many instances that markor item may either be permanent or may leave a mark or hole in the boot.In the latter instance, the wearer may have trouble finding stylishsupplemental embellishments that are removable, along with beingappropriate for the boot or shoe.

There are several patentees and applicants who have tried to solve thisproblem by introducing embellishments and other methods of supplementinga base boot or shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 2,729,899 issued to Haase disclosed aremovable fur trimming for boots, which was a cuff that surrounded thetop of the boot or shoe, wrapped over the top and into the inside of theboot or shoe and is then physically attached directly to the boot orshoe by a zipper or other direct connection means. In these embodiments,the removable cuff for the boot requires an “engaging means” on the bootto secure the cuff. Therefore, the cuffs are specifically manufacturedfor and can only be used with boots that have these correspondingengaging means. US Patent Publication 2010/0132226 by Dochter didn'taddress the problem presented in Haase, in that the zipper engagingmeans of Haase was replaced by a more modern engaging means, such asVELCRO®.

US Patent Publication 2011/0131837 by Foxen et al. discloses a removablespat for a shoe. This product is a sleeve that wraps around a largeportion of the shoe or boot, including wrapping and securing itselfunder the shoe. These embodiments are primarily possible, because theshoe has cleats or raised areas on the bottom of the shoe that allow thespat to be wrapped under the shoe without rubbing on the ground.

US Patent Publication 2012/0042545 by Dickerson discloses aninterchangeable fashion footwear component or decorative cuff that fitsaround the perimeter of the opening of a boot shaft. The cuff is held inplace by an adjustable strap that reaches down into the inside of theboot and wraps under the foot or heal of the wearer. This embodimentrequires that the foot of the wearer be in the boot or shoe for thedecorative cuff to be in place, remain in place and operable.

To this end, it would be desirable to develop a removable boot and shoecover that: a) can be reversible, b) does not require separate engagingmeans included on the boot or shoe itself, c) does not require thewearer to wear the boot or shoe for the removable cover to be coupledand/or engaged to the boot or shoe, d) is adjustable and can be reliablysized for adult shoes and boots, but also for children's shoes andboots, e) can be coupled with the boot or shoe without leaving a mark orhole in the boot or shoe, and f) can allow for additional embellishmentsto be added to the boot or shoe without leaving a mark or hole in theboot or shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

A removable cover designed for a boot or shoe that covers the ankle areaof a wearer is disclosed that includes: at least one flexible material,wherein the flexible material is designed to cover at least a part ofthe top portion of the boot or shoe; and at least one securing devicecoupled with the flexible material, wherein the securing deviceoperatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe.

In another embodiment, a removable cover designed for a boot or shoethat covers the ankle area of a wearer includes: at least one flexiblematerial, wherein the flexible material is designed to cover at least apart of the top portion of the boot or shoe; at least one securingdevice coupled with the flexible material, wherein the securing deviceoperatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe; and atleast one viewing feature in the at least one flexible material thatallows at least a part of the boot or shoe to be seen through theremovable cover.

Some embodiments include a sizing mechanism for a removable boot or shoecover that includes: at least one opening on a first side of theremovable cover, at least one strap feature on a second side of theremovable cover and that corresponds to the at least one opening, and atleast one securing component on the second side of the removable cover,wherein the at least one strap feature is designed to push through theat least one opening and then attach to the at least one securingcomponent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a contemplated removable cover 100 comprising a flexiblematerial 110 that may be reversible, and at least one securing device120 and 125, wherein the securing device comprises a plurality of loops120 and a plurality of buttons 125 that are positioned on the cover sothat they can accept the loops being wrapped around them.

FIG. 2 shows another contemplated removable cover 200 comprising aflexible material 210 that may be reversible, and at least one securingdevice 220, wherein the securing device in this embodiment comprises acompression material (that may also be the flexible material 210),elastic (not shown, but is stitched into the flexible material 210) or acombination thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a boot 360 with a contemplated removable cover 300 similarto that in FIG. 1 coupled with it.

FIG. 4 shows a boot 460 with a contemplated removable cover 400 similarto that in FIG. 2 coupled with it.

A contemplated removable cover 500 according to this embodiment is shownin FIG. 1 (where the at least one viewing feature 150 is shown) and isshown as reference number 550 in FIG. 5 on a contemplated boot 560having a displayed logo or mark 570.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show contemplated removable covers 600 and 700, bothcovers having at least one viewing feature 650 and 750 where a displayedlogo or mark 670 and 770 can be shown.

In FIG. 8, the at least one securing device 820 is looped 830 in the atleast one opening 840 and through 845 the opening 840. Once the securingdevice 820 is looped through the opening, it is stretched over andsecured 880 to the corresponding securing device 825 on the other sideof the removable cover 800.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A removable boot and shoe cover has been developed that meets at leastone of the following goals, in that contemplated covers: a) can bereversible, b) does not require separate engaging means included on theboot or shoe itself, c) does not require the wearer to wear the boot orshoe for the removable cover to be coupled and/or engaged to the boot orshoe, d) is adjustable and can be reliably sized for adult shoes andboots, but also for children's shoes and boots, e) can be coupled withthe boot or shoe without leaving a mark or hole in the boot or shoe, andf) can allow for additional embellishments to be added to the boot orshoe without leaving a mark or hole in the boot or shoe.

Specifically, a removable cover designed for a boot or shoe that coversthe ankle area of a wearer is disclosed that includes: at least oneflexible material, wherein the flexible material is designed to cover atleast a part of the top portion of the boot or shoe; and at least onesecuring device coupled with the flexible material, wherein the securingdevice operatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe. Acontemplated removable cover is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is then shownon a contemplated boot in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 1 shows a contemplated removable cover 100 comprising a flexiblematerial 110 that may be reversible, and at least one securing device120 and 125, wherein the securing device comprises a plurality of loops120 and a plurality of buttons 125 that are positioned on the cover sothat they can accept the loops being wrapped around them. FIG. 3 shows aboot 360 with a contemplated removable cover 300 similar to that in FIG.1 coupled with it.

FIG. 2 shows another contemplated removable cover 200 comprising aflexible material 210 that may be reversible, and at least one securingdevice 220, wherein the securing device in this embodiment comprises acompression material (that may also be the flexible material 210),elastic (not shown, but is stitched into the flexible material 210) or acombination thereof. It should be understood that the removable cover isdesigned to be coupled to the boot or shoe, but is not physicallyconnected to the boot or shoe, as was the problem with the referencesdiscussed earlier. FIG. 4 shows a boot 460 with a contemplated removablecover 400 similar to that in FIG. 2 coupled with it.

Contemplated flexible materials may comprise a synthetic material, anatural material or a combination thereof. Contemplated naturalmaterials may comprise leather, suede, fur, cotton, hemp, cork,animal-derived materials, cellulosic-based materials or a combinationthereof. Contemplated synthetic materials comprise nylon, polyester,acrylic fibers and materials or combinations thereof. Contemplatedflexible materials may be woven, stitched together, quilted,embellished, embroidered, adhered together or otherwise coupled in orderto form the removable cover.

Contemplated securing devices comprise elastic, shoe strings, hook andloop fasteners, such as VELCRO®, snaps, straps, buttons, compressionmaterial or a combination thereof. In the embodiment that comprises thecompression material, it is contemplated that the force that thecompression material exerts on the boot or show will hold or secure theremovable cover in place. In some of these embodiments, the compressionmaterial may be both the flexible material and the securing device.

As mentioned, some contemplated embodiments of a removable cover aredesigned to be reversible, which means that the wearer can remove thecover, turn it inside out and put the cover back on the boot or shoe tocreate a different look. Contemplated reversible and removable coversmay comprise two or more different types of fabrics, fibers or materialsin order to achieve the reversible look. Contemplated reversible andremovable covers may also comprise different securing devices on each ofthe inside and the outside of the cover and may also comprise at leastone sizing mechanism as disclosed herein. Contemplated removable coversmay also be folded over on themselves after being operatively coupled tothe boot, so as to give the appearance of being a cuff or a shrug.

In some embodiments, a contemplated removable cover comprises at leastone ornamentation area (shown as reference number 130 in FIG. 1),wherein the at least one ornamentation area comprises at least onecoupling element for a charm, an ornament, a tag or a combinationthereof (shown as reference number 135 in FIG. 1). A contemplatedcoupling element may comprise a metal or plastic hook, a flexible loopor a loop that is made from a solid material or a combination thereof.

There are some boots and shoes that apply a label with the trademark orcompany name on the outside of the boot or shoe, such as UGG® boots.Many consumers buy these boots not only for the style and comfort, butalso for the cache that comes with the recognition that it is anoriginal UGG® boot and not a knock-off product. So, in anotherembodiment, a removable cover designed for a boot or shoe that coversthe ankle area of a wearer includes: at least one flexible material,wherein the flexible material is designed to cover at least a part ofthe top portion of the boot or shoe; at least one securing devicecoupled with the flexible material, wherein the securing deviceoperatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe; and atleast one viewing feature in the at least one flexible material thatallows at least a part of the boot or shoe to be seen through theremovable cover. A contemplated removable cover 500 according to thisembodiment is shown in FIG. 1 (where the at least one viewing feature150 is shown) and is shown as reference number 550 in FIG. 5 on acontemplated boot 560 having a displayed logo or mark 570. FIGS. 6 and 7show contemplated removable covers 600 and 700, both covers having atleast one viewing feature 650 and 750 where a displayed logo or mark 670and 770 can be shown.

It is important that these removable covers are universal, in that theycan be correctly sized for both an adult shoe or boot and a child's shoeor boot. To that end, some embodiments include a sizing mechanism for aremovable boot or shoe cover that includes: at least one opening on afirst side of the removable cover, at least one strap feature on asecond side of the removable cover and that corresponds to the at leastone opening, and at least one securing component on the second side ofthe removable cover, wherein the at least one strap feature is designedto push through the at least one opening and then attach to the at leastone securing component. A securing component may also be located on thefirst side of the removable cover, such that the removable cover can besecured on the boot or shoe without using the sizing mechanism.

Contemplated sizing mechanism comprises at least one opening on thefirst side of the removable cover, and the opening may comprise areinforcement component. In some contemplated embodiments, thereinforcement component comprises a metal, plastic or otherwise solideyelet. A contemplated securing component may comprise any suitablesecuring item, including those mentioned earlier.

A method of adjusting the size of a removable cover on a boot or shoe,comprising: providing a contemplated sizing mechanism, inserting the atleast one strap feature through the at least one opening, looping the atleast one strap feature back to the second side, and attaching the atleast one strap feature to the at least one securing component. Acontemplated sizing mechanism is shown as reference numbers 120 and 140in FIG. 1 and the method of sizing the removable boot or shoe cover isshown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 8, the at least one securing device 820 islooped 830 in the at least one opening 840 and through 845 the opening840. Once the securing device 820 is looped through the opening, it isstretched over and secured 880 to the corresponding securing device 825on the other side of the removable cover 800.

Thus, specific embodiments related to removable footwear covers havebeen disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in theart that many more modifications besides those already described arepossible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Theinventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except inthe spirit of the disclosure herein. Moreover, in interpreting thespecification and claims, all terms should be interpreted in thebroadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, theterms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring toelements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicatingthat the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, orutilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that arenot expressly referenced.

I claim:
 1. A removable cover designed for a boot or shoe that coversthe ankle area of a wearer, the cover comprising: at least one flexiblematerial, wherein the flexible material is designed to cover at least apart of the top portion of the boot or shoe; and at least one securingdevice coupled with the flexible material, wherein the securing deviceoperatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe.
 2. Thecover of claim 1, wherein the flexible material comprises a syntheticmaterial, a natural material or a combination thereof.
 3. The cover ofclaim 2, wherein the natural material comprises leather, suede, fur,cotton, hemp or a combination thereof.
 4. The cover of claim 1, whereinthe flexible material comprises a compression material.
 5. The cover ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one securing device comprises elastic,shoe strings, a hook and loop fastener, snaps, straps, buttons,compression material or a combination thereof.
 6. The cover of claim 1,wherein the flexible material and the securing device comprise the samematerial.
 7. The cover of claim 6, wherein the same material is acompression material.
 8. The cover of claim 1, wherein the removablecover is not physically connected to the boot or shoe.
 9. The cover ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one ornamentation area.
 10. Thecover of claim 9, wherein the at least one ornamentation area comprisesat least one coupling element for a charm, an ornament, a tag or acombination thereof.
 11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover can befolded over on itself after being operatively coupled to the boot orshoe.
 12. The cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is reversible.
 13. Aremovable cover designed for a boot or shoe that covers the ankle areaof a wearer, the cover comprising: at least one flexible material,wherein the flexible material is designed to cover at least a part ofthe top portion of the boot or shoe; at least one securing devicecoupled with the flexible material, wherein the securing deviceoperatively couples the flexible material to the boot or shoe; and atleast one viewing feature in the at least one flexible material thatallows at least a part of the boot or shoe to be seen through theremovable cover.
 14. A sizing mechanism for a removable boot or shoecover, comprising: at least one opening on a first side of the removablecover, at least one strap feature on a second side of the removablecover and that corresponds to the at least one opening, and at least onesecuring component on the second side of the removable cover, whereinthe at least one strap feature is designed to push through the at leastone opening and then attach to the at least one securing component. 15.The sizing mechanism of claim 14, wherein the at least one opening onthe first side of the removable cover comprises a reinforcementcomponent.
 16. The sizing mechanism of claim 15, wherein thereinforcement component comprises a metal, plastic or otherwise solideyelet.
 17. A method of adjusting the size of a removable cover on aboot or shoe, comprising: providing the sizing mechanism of claim 14,inserting the at least one strap feature through the at least oneopening, looping the at least one strap feature back to the second side,and attaching the at least one strap feature to the at least onesecuring component.